EmPowered Couples with The Freemans

• When the ‘Needing Space’ and ‘Needing Resolution’ Partners Marry Each Other: Episode 419

  It seems like the “I need more space” and “I need to talk this out now” partners always find each other! This is the basis of the Pursuer/Withdrawer as well as the Anxious/Avoidant partner dynamics in marriage. When this dynamic happens, it always causes more tension, defensiveness, anxiety, and distance than the initial topic of conversation. If this sounds at all like dynamics you and your partner get into, you certainly are not alone!  In today’s episode you will hear more detail about what’s really happening for each partner, whether it is the need for space or resolution. There are many factors that contribute to this, like personality type and emotional processing capacity. But tune in to hear about details you would have never thought of, hear more about how this dynamic has played out in our own marriage over the years, and then specific steps you can take to keep this dynamic from escalating simple conversations. This will make you both feel even more secure, understood, and loved in your relationship. 👉 Don't forget to join us on our FREE Live Marriage Webclass on: The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection in Marriage. This live event only happens 2x per year. If you can't attend live, still register, as we will send you the replay. So don't miss out!   

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• The 4 D’s That Create Division in a Marriage: Episode 418

  Division isn’t just a problem in the world—it’s creeping into homes, marriages, and families everywhere. When couples start turning against each other instead of standing together, the bond that once felt safe and secure begins to weaken. In this episode, we’re breaking down The 4 D’s That Create Division in a Marriage: Dismissiveness, Defensiveness, Deflecting, and Divorce Threats. These subtle but destructive patterns slowly undermine connection and emotional safety, often without you even realizing it. We’ll clearly define what each of these behaviors looks and sounds like—and why they’re so damaging to your closeness and trust. More importantly, we’ll share how to stop them before they erode your foundation.  👉 And don’t miss our live + free Marriage WebClass: The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection in a Marriage. It’s a topic we’ve never taught publicly before, packed with the exact insights and tools we use with coaching clients. Register now at OnlineCouplesWorkshops.com

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• The Difference Between Productive and Unproductive Communication: Episode 417

  Many times in marriage, you can start what you think is a simple conversation and have it turn into a miscommunication or even a conflict. It is frustrating when you are trying to simply communicate something and it isn’t received by your partner.  In this episode we talk about the difference between productive and unproductive communication and what makes partners good communicators vs poor communicators. You will be surprised by the simple shift you can make and the massive difference it will make in how you each speak and listen to one another.  To dive further into the source of conflicts, attend our FREE LIVE Marriage Webclass on Oct 23rd: Navigating the 5 Root Causes of Conflicts. After this date you will be able to watch the replay as well.  For all of our resources visit: https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links 

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• Do Spouses Need to Validate Every Feeling or Emotional Upset? Episode 416

  When emotions run high in marriage, one of the most common traps couples fall into is what to do with each other’s feelings. Should you validate them? Should you challenge them? Or should you just offer a quick solution so you can move on? The truth is when emotional validation is missing or misunderstood, small hurts linger, conflicts spiral, and one or both partners can end up feeling dismissed, forced into solutions, or left unresolved. It’s also one of the biggest complaints we hear from spouses…”you’re not validating my feelings!”  In this episode, we unpack: Why couples often confuse validation with agreement The hidden ways spouses accidentally invalidate each other Why solutions don’t stick if this piece is missing What actually creates the safety to collaborate, repair, and move forward together If you’ve ever wondered “Am I supposed to validate even when I don’t agree?”—this conversation is for you. Because the order in which you respond to your partner’s emotions might be the very thing that determines whether you stay stuck… or actually grow closer. Also, register for our LIVE + FREE Marriage WebClass coming up on: The 5 Root Causes of Conflict and Disconnection…and the Tools to Overcome Them!  Register For The Webclass HERE 👈  

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• Hormones, Sleep, Alcohol & Perimenopause: How to Age Gracefully Together with Dr. Amy Shah: Episode 415

  After our recent intimacy series, there were dozens of follow up questions from you all asking us to dive further into normal hormonal changes as we age and proactive steps you can take to age gracefully AND stay connected through the changes.  In this episode, double board-certified physician Dr. Amy Shah (women’s health & nutrition) joins us to bust the “dad bod/mom bod is just aging” myth—and lay out practical, evidence-informed steps couples can use to sleep better, reduce stress, protect libido, and stay united through perimenopause, menopause, and men’s steady testosterone decline. In This Episode You’ll Learn: -Why “dad bod/mom bod” is more about habits + hormones than age -The gut–brain–hormone loop that impacts mood, energy & attraction -How to time difficult conversations around the cycle (and when not to) -The midlife health stack: movement, strength, sprinting, nutrition, sleep -Alcohol & hormones: why a 30–90 day break can be a game-changer -Men’s testosterone: fix root causes before quick fixes -Labs that matter (and why symptoms often beat hormone numbers) -The updated science on HRT for women—and when to consider it -“Gray divorce”: how to adapt as a team through this season   About Our Guest: Dr. Amy Shah is a double board-certified MD and nutritionist focused on the gut-brain connection, women’s health, and fitness medicine. Through AmyMD Wellness, books, speaking, and social channels, she helps people take control of their wellness with practical, research-backed tools.   Resource Links: • Dr. Amy Shah: IG @dramymd • TikTok @dramymd • Website: amymdwellness.com • Our most-used marriage tools & guides: meetthefreemans.com/links • Work with us / in-person Couples Workshop Oct 5th (AZ): meetthefreemans.com/workshop If this helped, tap 👍 + Subscribe for weekly tools to communicate better, de-escalate faster, and feel closer—through every season.   Episode Timestamps of What We Discussed: 02:34 Welcome + why we brought Dr. Amy on this topic 03:43 Health ↔ marriage: stress, cortisol, sleep & conflict 05:10 Listener question: attraction & a partner’s “dad bod” 06:04 Why “dad/mom bod” isn’t inevitable—habits + hormones 07:35 What healthy aging actually looks like (mindset matters) 08:58 The study: reversing heart age over 2 years (plan overview) 10:59 Modeling vs. nagging your partner’s health 12:21 Women 30s–50s: perimenopause basics & early signs 14:01 Energy, sleep, gut changes & libido shifts 15:23 Estrogen vs. progesterone—“two sisters” in your brain 19:00 Don’t make big decisions late-luteal; timing tough talks 23:03 Men’s testosterone: steady decline & root-cause fixes 26:40 Alcohol & hormones: realistic targets + try a break 29:41 Movement, nutrition & why sleep is #1 32:07 Should couples go to bed at the same time? 33:04 Labs that matter; why symptoms often beat hormone levels 35:01 HRT for women (updated science) & considerations for men 37:50 “Gray divorce,” shifting tolerance & communicating needs 41:16 Adapting habits together to age gracefully as a team 44:23 Where to find Dr. Amy + wrap  

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